minority

American  

[mahy-nawr-i-tee, -nor, mi-] / maɪˈnɔr ɪ ti, -ˈnɒr, mɪ- /

noun

• minorities
  plural

1. the smaller part or number; a number, part, or amount forming less than half of the whole.

2. a smaller party or group opposed to a majority, as in voting or other action.

3. a group in society distinguished from, and less dominant than, the more numerous majority.

   The ethnic minority was disproportionately affected by the reduction in preventative medical services.

4. a racial, ethnic, religious, or social subdivision of a society that is subordinated in political, financial, or social power by the dominant group, without regard to the size of these groups.

   legislation aimed at providing equal rights for minorities.

5. a member of such a group.

6. the state or period of being under the legal age of full responsibility.

   Synonyms:

   girlhood, boyhood, childhood

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adjective

1. of or relating to a minority.

minority British  

/ mɪ-, maɪˈnɒrɪtɪ /

noun

1. the smaller in number of two parts, factions, or groups

2. a group that is different racially, politically, etc, from a larger group of which it is a part

3. 1. the state of being a minor

   2. the period during which a person is below legal age Compare majority

4. (modifier) relating to or being a minority

   a minority interest

   a minority opinion

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonminority
  adjective
• prominority
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• minorities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of minority

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English, from Middle French minorité, from Medieval Latin minōritāt-, stem of minōritās; see minor, -ity

Explanation

If you have eight pennies and twelve dimes, the minority — or smaller portion — of your coins are pennies. If you're left-handed, you are in the minority, because most people are right-handed. That means that right-handed people are the majority (the opposite of minority). Minority is typically used to refer to the smaller of two numbers being compared or to a group of people that is not predominant in a particular country or population. Less commonly, it refers to the time period before someone is of legal age.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

minority minorities

She’s extremely interested in the ways problematic movies can be reclaimed by the real-life minority figures depicted in them, and what can be gleaned from studying these films’ merits.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

Siemens Energy said it could bring in external investors or undertake a potential capital markets transaction, and plans to deconsolidate the business while maintaining a meaningful minority stake.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer wrote simply: "Rest in peace, Dolly Parton -- a true legend and force for good. May her memory be a blessing."

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

“I might be in the minority on this, but I think if the estate-recovery system helps the state maintain the programs, sometimes it’s the price you have to pay,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

He often reminded people that he was just a low-ranking member of the minority party, a backbench player if there ever was one.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

President Ahmed al-Sharaa has pledged to protect minorities in the multi-sectarian, multi-ethnic country.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Department of State gave money to groups protecting free speech, human rights and persecuted minorities in poor and authoritarian countries.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

Doherty says it would be inauthentic for that show not to have characters of racial minorities, even if this isn’t something that’s always addressed in the episodes’ plots.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

The incident occurred a day after China put in force a law viewed as the culmination of a long-running campaign to assimilate the country’s ethnic minorities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

I had spoken with him before about inappropriate comments on campus and ways to make minorities feel more at home.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Related Words

• opposition